Project in doubt

Orillia Today

ORILLIA - A major development proposed for a south-end property is in question now that the city is establishing a recreation facility elsewhere.
The decision on whether or not MADY Development Corporation will purchase the FLSmidth property will come in the next couple of weeks, said senior vice-president and CFO Greg Puklicz.
“We haven’t made a final decision at this point in time, but given that the rec centre is not going to go there, our anchor tenant is re-evaluating their position,” he said.
The company planned to develop a mix of uses on the 22-acre property, including commercial, recreational and, potentially residential.
However, a joint venture with the city on a recreation facility is longer in the cards, given that council opted to build at the David H. Church property.
“We never told the anchor tenant that the rec centre was going to be there necessarily, but they had heard about it and they had hoped the city would decide to locate it there,” Puklicz added. “It creates traffic and it would have been a draw to the area. Knowing that it is not going to happen, they are reconsidering their interest in that location.”
MADY’s offer to purchase remains on the table, however, “the challenges are very significant now,” Puklicz said.
“We are seeing if we can’t put something together, but it is going to be difficult,” he said. “There needs to be a sufficient critical mass and uses that generate traffic and activity in that corridor. Without those, it’s hard to convince people to be a part of the project.”
Asked to comment on environmental conditions at the property, Puklicz said, “The environmental issues were extremely minor and there was nothing impeding our ability to immediately move forward with the project.”